To Buy Or Not To Buy? That Is The Wedding Suit Question

Photo by Tintin hedberg

To buy or not to buy a suit? That is the question that Hamlet would have asked if he’d married Ophelia.

Renting can save you money, but also stick you with the type of ill-fitting suit that hasn’t been in fashion since the Civil War. Buying can be a smart investment, but not if you have to take out a subprime mortgage for a tuxedo that you’re only going to wear once.

To borrow another phrase from the Dane, there’s nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.

Renting and buying a wedding suit both have their benefits: which works best depends on your particular circumstances. Below are the respective pros for you to consider:

Renting

You Can Save Money

The average cost of renting a wedding suit is around $185 (although it can be less than $100, and as much as $500).

If you’re only going to wear the rig once (which is more likely to be the case with something specialised like a tailcoat) then it doesn’t make sense to spend more, or have it taking up space in your wardrobe.

You Can Save Time

Getting a suit made takes time – typically at least a month.

If you forgot that you’ve got a wedding tomorrow (hopefully not yours) and don’t have time to trawl the mall, then you can hightail it to a tuxedo rental service and walk out with your ass literally and metaphorically covered.

You Can Still Change Your Look

Yes, you’re stuck wearing the same old suit or tux (although that’s kind of the point with black tie: it’s classic). But you can mix up your look by buying new shirts, ties and pocket squares, for less than the cost of renting a whole outfit.

You’ll Save Time In The Long Run

OK, so you have to put in the initial legwork. But once you’ve got that suit in your closet, you’re ready to go to a wedding (or other fancy shindig) at the drop of a hat.

You’ll Feel Like A Man’s Man

Whether weddings or award ceremonies, the few occasions in life when you need to suit or tux up tend to be times when you want to look your confident best. Knowing that your rig has been tailored for you – even if it wasn’t made for you – will go a long way.

Bottom Line

We recommend buying your suit. Even if you have to stretch a bit to pay for it, this is one time when it will be worth it. But don’t worry if you can’t swing that. There are plenty of advantages to renting a suit.

If you are looking to rent some awesome looking tuxes, the internet is where it's at. Here’s a look at the best sites, along with all you need to know about them when navigating the tricky rental market.